Medical apparatus and method for applying pressure and absorbing fluid

A medical apparatus for applying pressure and absorbing body fluid, comprising:

• a compressed pad having an upper face and a lower face and said compressed pad expanding upon absorbing body fluid;
• a backing member overlying said upper face acting to increase pressure as said compressed pad absorbs body fluid and expands, said backing member being rigid to provide a desired pressure application;
• and
• a fastener assembly connected to said backing member for fastening said compressed pad and said backing member to the body;
• wherein said lower face of said compressed pad has dimensions that depend upon the size and shape of an area in the body from which body fluid exits such that said lower face has a first dimension to absorb body fluid from a first body part when the body fluid is exiting the first body part and is differently dimensioned to absorb fluid from a second body part when the body fluid is exiting the second body part, with said compressed pad including a material that absorbs the body fluid and applies pressure to the body while containing the body fluid, and as the body fluid is absorbed said compressed pad has different thicknesses at different locations on said lower face.

A medical apparatus for applying pressure to a body part while absorbing body fluid, comprising:

• a compressed pad for contacting a body part, said compressed pad having an upper face and a lower face and said compressed pad expanding upon absorbing body fluid;
• a backing member overlying said upper face and acting to increase pressure applied to the body part as said compressed pad absorbs body fluid and expands, said backing member has a rigidity factor of at least ten times greater than a rigidity factor of said compressed pad;
• and
• a fastener assembly connected to said backing member for fastening said compressed pad and said backing member to the body part;
• wherein said compressed pad, backing member and fastener assembly collectively are capable of applying a pressure of at least about 0.4 psi to the body part.

A method for controlling body fluid escaping from a breach in a body in which the breach has a length of at least about 1 inch, comprising:

• providing a compressed pad having a length of at least about 1.3 inches and a first thickness before absorbing any body fluid, said providing step including providing a rigid backing member to an upper face of said compressed pad;
• contacting said compressed pad with the breach using a fastening assembly;
• absorbing body fluid causing at least portions of said compressed pad along its entire first thickness to expand to at least a second thickness which is at least twice said first thickness, with said thickness increase occurring due to pressure applied by said rigid backing member, said fastener assembly and said compressed pad;
• and
• applying a pressure of at least about 0.4 psi after said absorbing step to the body part having the breach, said step of applying being conducted wherein said pressure is applied substantially solely using a combination of said compressed pad, said rigid backing member and said fastening assembly.